Iowa football #MusterOneUp Mailbag: No love for Morty the Mime

Don Henley, the "other" or the "main" Eagles guy depending on your point of view, went to North Texas. That's really all I've got.

I'm not a big Eagles fan. I have my parents' copy of their greatest hits. I think everyone born in the 1960s has that record, or 8-track, somewhere. I do, however, respect the talent and the songwriting.

OK, enough frivolity.

The Hawkeyes (2-0) face North Texas (1-1) Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. It's going to be a scorcher, so don't wear a parka. The Iowa athletics department is making water available all over the stadium. There also will be a cooling area if you start to feel distressed.

The heat might do that to you. This game shouldn't.

The Hawkeyes are trying for their fifth perfect non-conference record in Kirk Ferentz's 19 seasons. In three of the four perfect non-cons, Iowa went on to win 10-plus games (2003, 2009 and 2015). I don't know what happened in 2006. Let's get into 'Muster One Up' mailbag No. 3. That one guy can send as many emails as he wants. Can't stop, won't stop. Lyrics from my favorite Grateful Dead song.

I'm always looking for contributions on Twitter, Facebook or email.. Like the crazy, drunk general said in 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly,' 'All right, my friends ... Come along and enjoy the spectacle.'

Wide Receiver improvement....how so much so fast? September 13, 2017

Wide Receiver improvement....how so much so fast? #MusterOneUp

— SmashmouthFB (@jasonbmoeller)

Let's give first-year wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland some credit here. I don't know if you guys have seen him. He's clearly a weightroom warrior. We're talking the biggest WR coach in maybe the world.

Why does this matter? I have a theory, and, no, it's not a challenge of feats of strength.

Copeland is a hands-on coach. Everyone learns differently. Some players just need to be told what to do. Some are visual learners. They need to see it to get it. Also, detailed and talented secondaries generally don't allow receivers to run free without a jam, a physical push in the wrong direction to throw off timing and depth. (Classic Michigan State secondary.)

When Copeland has the blocking pads out, he's a big, strong man showing his players the effort and technique it takes to release from the line of scrimmage.

'It does help,' sophomore Devonte Young said. 'Some coaches, not from here just in my experience, don't do hands on. When he's demonstrating, everyone can see it and understand.'

Then there's the other factor. The wide receiver room went through an Extreme Home Makeover during the offseason. Obviously, there's a new coach. By senior wide receiver Matt VandeBerg's count, since January, the Iowa wide receiver room added nine new faces.

Two of those have turned out to be gold. Junior Nick Easley walked on from Iowa Western Community College. Kirk Ferentz talked him up from day one. We all kind of nodded in the spring and then in fall camp. You needed to see it.

All he's done so far is lead Iowa in receiving (11 catches for 125 yards and two TDs). Last week at Iowa State, Easley caught seven passes on nine targets and scored a TD.

I'm not sure what else to say about Ihmir Smith-Marsette's emergence last week. Four catches, 36 yards, two TDs. His second TD catch (5 yards) won the game in overtime. The first one, a beautiful, diving effort with a landing stuck just inside the end line of the end zone, deserves a mural in downtown Cedar Rapids. He's only a freshman. I'm not anointing him [fill in the name of your favorite NFL receiver here], but he oozes body control and clutch.

Great question, Jason. I rambled on, so extra #MusterOneUp for everyone.

Do secondary issues now become team's biggest concern or did u see a lot of "fixables" September 13, 2017

Do secondary issues now become team's biggest concern or did u see a lot of "fixables" #musteroneup

— Jonny Hawkeye (@JonnyHawkeye)

I thought I saw a lot of fixables, but I wanted to ask the players. Guess what? They saw a lot of fixables, too. So OK, let's go with that.

Iowa allowed a ton of free releases for Iowa State receivers at the line of scrimmage. I'm going to guess that ISU coaches picked up on that and made that a key in the game planning. Iowa did try to press man-to-man, but dropped into zones. The 'jamming wide receivers' thing isn't just the defensive backs, it's the linebackers, too.

'I think rerouting was one of the things (talked about coming out of ISU),' linebacker Josey Jewell said. 'Get them (receivers) in a different position and not allow them to run straight up the field and attack our safeties and corners. That's one of the points we took away from last week.'

That sounds fixable. The next question is overall team speed on defense, something Iowa has been extremely conscious of since Norm Parker's days as coordinator. That question will hang out there. The answer will reveal itself throughout the season.

Why aren't we seeing more of James Butler (especially near the goal line)? Is it play calling? Trust? Missed assignments?September 13, 2017

Why aren't we seeing more of James Butler (especially near the goal line)? Is it play calling? Trust? Missed assignments?#MusterOneUp

— Hello Jerry (@JerryScherwin)

First thing, we've seen lots of changes in Iowa's offense this year. OK, those changes have mostly been in the passing game. It's a brave new world under first-year coordinator Brian Ferentz. But when push has come to shove these first two weeks, Iowa has fallen back on senior running back Akrum Wadley. And why not? He's the known commodity and, man alive, he's come through every time this season.

There just hasn't been many logical openings for a new back. Kirk Ferentz said this week he even told freshman running back Toren Young that he's practiced well and they're looking for the 'right time' to get him into games.

Iowa has had just three TD opportunities inside the opponent's 5 this season (Noah Fant 2-yard TD reception, Wadley 1-yard dive and Smith-Marsette from 5 yards in OT last week). There just hasn't been many of those.

From my eye, Butler has done everything right. Wadley's workload was a topic this week. I expect Butler's workload to increase. He might even be the featured back Saturday.

How big is the upside of Nate Stanley? 1st/2nd Round NFL Pick? 1st 3000 yard passer under Ferentz? September 13, 2017

How big is the upside of Nate Stanley? 1st/2nd Round NFL Pick? 1st 3000 yard passer under Ferentz? #MusterOneUp

— Trent Condon (@trentcondon)

My top three things I needed to see from Stanley to believe after not seeing a whole lot in spring and camp:

1. Accuracy

You can try to build accurate throws into your offense, but if your QB isn't accurate that's going to be a problem. The two TD passes against Wyoming opened my eyes. Stanley's ball placement was much better last week. He's placed passes where his receivers and only his receivers have a chance to get them (TD passes last week to VandeBerg and Smith-Marsette).

He had long foul balls, for sure. Those didn't end up sinking Iowa. And, by the way, those are very low-percentage throws every day of the week.

2. Vision

So far, pretty good. He hasn't seen some open receivers in the first two games. Part of vision, in my opinion, is hanging in and getting every read. I was really impressed with the check down to fullback Drake Kulick. It was a late read and it went for 26 yards on a drive that ended in a touchdown.

3. Poise

Stanley directed five scoring drives of 76 yards or more at Jack Trice last week. He's 3-for-3 in two minutes drills, putting 21 points on the board in the final two minutes of halves in the first two games.

Is he a first-round NFL draft pick? Get out of here with that talk, Trent. That's Futurama. Maybe 3,000 yards is realistic, but that's happened only five times in Iowa history, with James Vandenberg being the last to do it (3,022) in 2011.

September 13, 2017

#MusterOneUp What's the likelihood OC Ferentz gives a backup QB meaningful snaps against NT?

— Tony Allen (@TAllen_IA_MN)

It depends how we want to define 'meaningful'? Will junior Tyler Wiegers get snaps with the game still in doubt? No. Will he get snaps with a three-score lead? Maybe. Four-score? Probably. Blowout city? Definitely.

I think the 'meaningful snaps' guy in this game might be Tristan Wirfs. Iowa is suddenly running low on tackles. When center James Daniels threw his helmet off and ran into the bleachers at Trice last week, Lucas LeGrand and Landan Paulsen were there to greet him. I believe they've suffered injuries. Those are two players who would help at tackle.

Now, it looks like Wirfs, a true freshman from Mount Vernon, is the 'next tackle in.'

September 13, 2017

#MusterOneUp Over under number of Toren Young Carries at 9.5

— Chris Furumoto (@chris_furumoto)

That's a good number. I think you're right on it. Let's go with 12 carries for Wadley, 15 for Butler and 10 for Young.

Are the Gophers the best team in the B1G or the best team in the Universe? September 13, 2017

Are the Gophers the best team in the B1G or the best team in the Universe? #MusterOneUp

— D Fresh (@Dhook33)

It depends how we define 'universe.' If we're talking Big Ten football teams in Minneapolis, then totally yes. We'll see about the rest of the world very soon.

What is the probability of Iowa throwing on 2nd and short. September 13, 2017

What is the probability of Iowa throwing on 2nd and short. #MusterOneUp

— The Nevist (@texahawkeye)

I don't have the clean percentages, but I'll go 50-50.

Here's why: I'm going to pick a random position group from last week. Let's go with 12 (one back, two tight ends).

This is what Iowa did out of 12 last week:

run

run (scramble)

run

run

run

run

run

pass

pass

pass

run

pass

run

pass

pass

pass

This is a traditional run group. Iowa ran nine times (really eight with the scramble) and passed seven.

So, 50-50. I'm sticking.

From Jim (I'm just going with Jim): Best Spinal Tap secondary character: Sir Denis Eton-Hogg, Terry Ladd, or Lt. Bob Hookstratten?

Terry Ladd. I can't resist Howard Hesseman. Loved 'WKRP Cincinnati.' Can't believe there's no love here for the great Paul Benedict as Tucker 'Smitty' Brown or Morty the Mime, played by Billy Crystal.

What do you bench September 13, 2017

What do you bench #MusterOneUp

— Merkles (@My_niche7)

Weights. I bench weights.

Did BF really smoke a cigar & drink champagne after the game Saturday? Can you ask Kirk? September 13, 2017

Did BF really smoke a cigar & drink champagne after the game Saturday? Can you ask Kirk? #MusterOneUp

— Paul McMorris (@paulmcmorris411)

Brian Ferentz doesn't strike me as a cigar and Champagne guy. Maybe salsa and Corona? I did hear Kirk Ferentz say something about smoking a cigar on the radio.

I also heard that the opponent's coaching suite in the Trice press box was a million degrees and Brian Ferentz needed a change of clothes.

Hey, I'd do that if I were a college football program. Get in their heads.

Do you believe NE's reasons for asking out of Black Friday game? Seems like a good cover up for the way IA has played them. September 13, 2017

Do you believe NE's reasons for asking out of Black Friday game? Seems like a good cover up for the way IA has played them. #MusterOneUp

— Paul McMorris (@paulmcmorris411)

If Nebraska says it wants out of Friday games late in the season for player safety, then I believe Nebraska.

Think of the Big Ten West as one giant bunk bed. Everyone thinks the other program is their little brother and no one is EVER backing down. At least not publicly.

Black Friday is a national platform for programs, a valuable piece of television real estate. When I think of Black Friday football, I think of Nebraska.

I'll take what the school says at face value, but this seems very confusing.

Also, why switch around the season finale? It feels to me like these decisions are being made on Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany and TV executive guy levels. It feels out of touch with their constituency.

September 13, 2017

#MusterOneUp lunch today: poached egg, brown rice, kale pesto, watermelon radish, red radish,mushrooms & spinach, side of sriracha + avacado

— Cal (@Cal4Cal)

Cal, why do you want to live forever?

We're all going to die. I plan to leave a corpse with divots.

Does "Ferentz Speech" during interviews from players and Ferentz himself ever frustrate you when writing a story? September 13, 2017

Does "Ferentz Speech" during interviews from players and Ferentz himself ever frustrate you when writing a story? #MusterOneUp

— Kirk's Gum (@KirksGum)

Yes, but this is hardly exclusive to Iowa. All schools put players through some sort of media training.

It's on me to scratch beyond that. Interviewing is an art. I might still be in 'paint by numbers,' but I'm always open to honing the skill.

September 13, 2017

#MusterOneUp Haven't tracked formations- think there are plans to 'show' heavy (with 2+ TEs) then split them out? Or maybe in other words

— Michael Schmitz (@gmschmitz)

Both tight ends? No. Freshman T.J. Hockenson is your new Ray Hamilton. He's an inline TE. He blocks well and moves fine. He had two really important catches on the same drive last week, including a 24-yard gain on a third-and-15. His game will grow. I've tracked formations, but not motions (oh hey, new thing to track). Hockenson might've motioned to a Y-back position, but he's 95 percent inline.

Noah Fant has split out some. I'm not talking split end, but slot stuff. I think you'll see that. One formation Iowa broke out last week was 10 (one back and four wide receivers). It looked like the play wanted to be a WR screen to either side. Easley caught the pass, but the Cyclones read it well.

Keep an eye on motions this week, Michael. Excellent observation.

September 13, 2017

#MusterOneUp Aside from score, what do you think is the first stat KF checks in box score: TOs/Plays/TOP/Rush Yds/Penalties/Punts (had to)

— Josh Sandin (@RealJoshSandin)

Well, punts.

Kidding, kidding.

I'm pretty sure he keeps track of penalties on that notepad he keeps in his pocket during games.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com